In a love affair straight from the stage, Royal Ballet Principals Marianela Nuñez and Thiago Soares finally tied the knot last summer after five years of engagement.

In a charming In Conversation event as part of the Royal Opera House Insights, they spoke to Kevin O'Hare about their onstage and private relationships, their Latin American roots, and some of the roles they relish performing.

From the age of 8, Marianela recalls waking up at 6am every day for seven hours of ballet lessons. At the same time, Thiago was on the beach in Rio, dabbling with hip-hop and then joining circus school.

Despite the demanding pressures that come with being a principal they still find plenty of time to joke around. When Marianela complimented Thiago on his stage presence, she made an aside to the audience that she'll now get the handbag she had always wanted!

In this extract, the couple are asked if there an element of competitiveness to their professional relationship: